How to Find the Best Registered Agent in Washington
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This guide will help you find the best registered agent in Washington. We’ll explore key factors to consider, evaluate top providers, and equip you with the knowledge to make an informed decision for your business’s registered agent needs.
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What is a registered agent?
The Washington Secretary of State explains that a registered agent is a business entity or individual that receives service of process and other official documents as a representative of a business organization.
The primary role of a registered agent in Washington is to be the point of contact between a business and the Secretary of State so that they know someone is available to accept legal notices and important documents such as:
- Certificate of Formation – also known as the Articles of Organization
- Articles of Incorporation – documents that a corporation files upon formation
- Annual report fee – due by the end of the business’ anniversary month
- Certificate of Existence– proof of good standing in Washington
- Business and occupation tax – due from Jan. 31 to Apr. 15
An agent is a physical address in Washington
A Washington registered agent must physically accept official documents from the Washington Secretary of State.
The street address of the registered agent can also be used as the business address listed in the Washington business public record.
A registered agent is a representative on behalf of a business
The Washington Secretary of State requires you to appoint a registered agent so that they know that someone is physically available to accept time-sensitive documents, such as legal summons.
The state of Washington gives you 14 days to respond to a subpoena.
The appointed registered agent will let you know when a service of process has taken place so that you can respond quickly to the summons and avoid a default judgment.
A commercial registered agent service is a due date tracker
The annual report is due at the end of the anniversary month of a business formation. While the Secretary of State emails fee reminders, you can’t ensure they won’t end up in a spam folder.
Missing the due date can result in losing good standing with the Washington Secretary of State, along with any liability protection.
Professional registered agents maintain a compliance calendar to remind you of upcoming due dates and then assist you in submitting the proper documents and fees.
Cost of a registered agent in Washington
In Washington, a registered agent must be at least 18 and have a street address in the state.
The Secretary of State allows you to appoint anyone in Washington to be a registered agent for free as long as they meet the registered agent requirements.
- Yourself
- Family member
- Employee
The appointment of an outside professional registered agent service costs a business between $50 and $500 annually.
When to appoint a registered agent
The Secretary of State requires all businesses formed in Washington to list the registered agent information on the formation documents.
A limited liability company (LLC) appoints the registered agent using the Certificate of Formation.
A corporation in Washington provides registered agent information on the Articles of Incorporation.
How does a Washington LLC appoint a registered agent?
1
File the Certificate of Formation
You will complete the Certificate of Formation form and submit it to the Washington Office of the Secretary of State Corporations and Charities Division by mail or in person.
Mailing addresses:
Washington Secretary of State
Corporations Division
PO Box 40234
Physical address
Washington Secretary of State
Corporations Division
801 Capitol Way S
Olympia, WA 98501
You can file the Certificate of Formation form online using the Washington Corporations and Charities Filing System.
2
Appoint your registered agent
Section 5 of the Certificate of Formation form will ask for the registered agent’s information.
- Is the agent a registered commercial agent?
- Type of registered agent (individual, entity, office, or position)
- Registered agent’s phone number
- Registered agent email address
- Registered agent address
The registered agent you appoint must consent to the appointment by signing the Certificate of Formation form.
3
Pay your Washington filing fees
The cost to file the Certificate of Formation in Washington is $200 when filing online and $180 by mail or in person.
The Corporations and Charities Division offers expedited business filing services for an additional $50 for paper filings.
The cost to file your LLC Articles of Organization in Washington is $200 online, and $180 by mail.
How to change your registered agent in Washington
You must officially notify the Corporations and Charities Division if you switch registered gents or if there is a registered office address change.
Submit the statement of change agent form online
You will use the Washington Corporations and Charities Filing System to submit the change of registered agent form online.
Submit the statement of registered agent form by mail or in person
You will complete the change of registered agent form and submit it to the Washington Corporations and Charities Division by mail or in person.
The Washington Corporations and Charities Division does not charge to switch registered agents.
Submit the change of agent or address on the Washington annual report
If the agent switch comes close to the yearly fee filing date, you can use the report to change the registered agent information.
How to resign as a registered agent in Washington
You must complete the statement of resignation of registered agent form and submit it to the Washington Office of the Secretary of State Corporations and Charities Division online, by mail, or in person.
You will then send a copy of the statement of resignation to the Washington company you’re resigning from.
The statement of resignation form will ask you to provide certain information.
- Business name
- ID number
- Registered agent name
- Registered agent address
- Registered agent mailing address
- Statement of resignation
- Date
- Signature
The Washington Corporations and Charities Division does not charge to withdraw consent to act as a registered agent.
Benefits of appointing a registered agent in Washington
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Your Washington business remains in compliance
A business in Washington state must remain in good standing to maintain asset protection.
Noncompilkance happens when an organization submits the annual fee late or fails to respond to a summons.
If you appoint a registered agent service, you’re ensuring that you don’t miss critical due dates and lose your liability protection.
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You’re removing your personal address from public record
It’s common for small business owners in Washington to work out of private offices or from home addresses.
A business owner that appoints themselves as a registered agent risks the personal address becoming a public record.
Anyone can search the Washington Corporation Search using:
- Business name
- ID number
- Trademark
- Owner’s name
- Date of formation
- Registered agent name
- Registered agent address
When you appoint an outside registered agent, you can list the service address in the Washington Office of the Secretary of State Corporations and Charities Division.
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You can avoid embarrassment
A process server can come to your Washington place of business to serve the service of process.
Appointing a registered agent from outside the office ensures that sensitive documents are accepted away from the office, providing you peace of mind.
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You’re in control of your own work schedule
According to the Revised Code of Washington, a Washington registered agent must be available during normal business hours to accept official correspondence from law firms and the Washington Department of Revenue.
By appointing yourself, you are responsible for being available Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm.
A professional registered agent service has resident agents available during the required hours so you can make your own work schedule.
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24/7 online access to the Washington Certificate of Existence
A financial institution will ask that you provide them with proof of good standing with the Washington Secretary of State.
The Certificate of Existence is proof of good standing in Washington.
The best registered agent services give business owners constant access to the Certificate of Existence and other formation documents making doing business conveniently.
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LLC expansion becomes easy
If you expand a Washington LLC into a different state, you will be required to appoint a registered agent before business formation.
The registered agent you’ve already appointed allows you to start the foreign LLC formation process as soon as possible.
FAQs
How do I get a registered agent in Washington?
If you want to appoint a commercial registered agent in Washington, you will look for a service that provides nationwide coverage and has a good reputation.
What is a Washington agent for service of process?
An agent for service of process and a registered agent are the same thing. A service of process accepts legal documents such as subpoenas on behalf of a business.
Can a registered agent sign on behalf of an LLC in Washington?
Registered agents can only sign for a Washington LLC if the company has given the agent authorized to do so.
What happens if I don’t have a registered agent in Washington?
Washington Office of the Secretary of State Corporations and Charities Division will not approve any business registration that does not contain the registered agent information. If you switch or lose an agent, you must appoint a new one ASAP to remain compliant.
Why would you change registered agents in Washington State?
You may have to change or update the registered agent information when an agent retires, withdraw consent to act as a registered agent, change addresses, or if the service goes out of business.
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